'Preserve your legacy' - President Mahama advised to resist third-term pressure

Dr Emmanuel Alex Nti, a political analyst, has opined that President John Dramani Mahama must avoid any political pressure or manoeuvring to accept the ‘dangerous call’ for him to pursue a third term.

Although he argued that the government’s performance, if satisfactory to Ghanaians, may influence them to support a third-term bid, it is an agenda that would undermine his legacy.

He stated that every great leader is one who trains others to take over and that the most appropriate course of action would be for him to have someone with the competence and skills who has gone through the mill seek the presidential seat instead of him going for a third term.

Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has the men to govern even without Mahama leading the party.

He added that the President has a team he is working with, and out of that team, which extends beyond those in government, there would always be someone to lead the party.

Dr Emmanuel Alex Nti stressed that President Mahama must preserve his legacy and walk away when his term ends.

Using the analogy of a celebrity or a musician with wild applause while performing on stage, he said such a performer must know when to bring the performance to an end in order not to destroy the beautiful performance which gave him or her the wild applause.

“As a musician or a celebrity who has gained popularity or prominence, you should know when to exit on stage. If you fail to do that, you risk undermining the reputation you’ve built over the years. I think President Mahama is aware of that, and because of the legacy he wants to leave behind, he would not risk it by allowing pressure to force him into accepting the third-term agenda.

"But one thing we should also understand is that every good leader builds a team and raises leaders so that even in his absence, they would be able to take over. I wouldn’t be surprised if he seeks a third term, but from how I know Mahama as someone who builds leaders around him, he will likely be backstage to coach whoever he thinks can also project his agenda for the better Ghana we all yearn for, because he knows when to exit the stage.”